Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-06-23
SET IN DIAMONDS.
BY Charlotte VI. Braeme.
CHAPTER XXII-CoNTINUEp.

CHAPTER XXII-CoNTINUED
But DR.. Orton paused.
III had thought of doing so, my lord"
he said, but am afraid the shock will
be too great. Lady Stair has received
frghtful injuries. Perhapt it would be
better for some one else to identify
her"
NO" replied Lord Stair, 81 will go
myself"
The voices had died from his ears; all
the natural quickness of his intelligence
had returned to him.
In silence they went to the long,
dreary waiting-room, where the dead,
the dying, and the wounded lie. Never
was sight so CHASTITY or horrible-the
long, cold, dreary room, with its fare
of gas-light, its wooden benches, and
It's bare, cold walls. Three children
lay dead on the tables-no one had
claimed them yet; woman lay dead,
whose daughter had just found her.
The cries and means of the injured were
terrible to hear. The doctors were
busily engaged, and many were there to
help. Under one of the windows stood
white wooden table, and on it, cover
ed with gray shawl, lay the body of
woman.
"You must not remove that shawl,
my lord" said the doctor. You could
not recognize the poor lady in this
fashion, she has been so terribly burned
There can be no doubt that she is Lady
Stair; this purse was found upon her"
and he placed in Lord Stairs hand
the purse he knew so well. He contin-
ued-"rhis watch and chain were found
entangled in her dress"
1. l., Al
many other personal belongings that he
knew were his wite's.
''Can you identify her dress?" asked
the doctor.
No; but my sister, Lady Perth, could
Let her come," replied Lord Stair.
But will it be prudent?-will she
have nerve sufficient" asked the doctor.
Yes" was Lord Stairs reply.
lie stood by in curious silence, hold
ing the watch and chain in his hand,
looking at it, yet not seeing it. As for
that silent figure covered with the gray
shawl, being his Marguerite, his beau
tiful young wife Marguerite, little Sun
beam S mother, that was all nonsen SO.
He could hear the crying of children,
the weeping of women, the means OF
the wounded, the kindly cheering
voices OF the doctors. But ali seemed
part of the same unreal dream.
His wife, Marguerite, whom he had
wooed in garden OF roses; Marguerite.
who had lived in his luxurious home,
lying dead in this cold, Ca eerless, dreary
room, impossible! He laughed aloud at
the notion, and at the sound of that
terrible laugh many turned to look at
him. Lady PERTH was standing by his
side, her proud face softened and dead
ly white, a great nameless fear in her
eyes.
Still as in q dream, he heard the
questions addressed to her. Sne knew
the Cress, a plain black silk, she had
seen it in Lady stair wardrobe only a
few days since, and she knew the black
jacket, Lady stair had often worn 1t;
she recognized the jewelry-there was
no mistake. 10 do her justice, she
would lain have undone that days
work If she could. Sac said something
about the rings that Lady Stair wore,
and Dv. OIton had to choose his words
as delicately as he could, when he told
her that tue hands which had worn
those dainty gems were terribly
crushed.
What most terrible thing" said
Lady Perth. She shuddered and trem-
bled as she spoke.
1t is one thing to hate and prosecute
woman, to drive her with slanderous
words from home, IL is another and q
very different matter TO keep calm and
unmoved when that same woman lies
dead and cruelty disilgured before you
Lady Perth lost her calm, she felt like
amurderess. 1t was she VINO, by her
cruel, singing, bitter words, had driven
this fair young wife to this most
cruel death
"She is dead and have killed her, ,
said Lady Perth, to herself-"l have
killed her."
There was no more to be said Of
done; there was no doubt on TIE mine
of any of them This was Lady Stair
Granted that the once beautiful features
could never more be seen, who bu
Lady Stair herself would wear Lady
Stairs clothes, would wear her watci
and chain, would carry her purse ant
her card-case.
Her ladyship was travelling to town
suppose said the doctor and Lore
Stair answered, Eyes" Then Ii,
turned to his sister:
"Thamer," he said, "let the past b.
dead. Never mind how or why sh,
left home-that matters little now-sh,
shall be taken back with all honor, o
the past you will say no word"
Lady Perth was we'll content to com
promise with her conscience, ant
promise all that he asked; and thel
preparations were made for takins
home the body OF Marguerite Lady
Stair.